CHICAGO – When you’ve brought to life one of the greatest animation series ever produced, there is not much to prove. The “Toy Story” series has relied on the strong and emotional stories since 1995, and after a nine year break comes back for one more intriguing spin for their characters, finding a new path in “Toy Story 4.”

Rating: 4.5/5.0

The premise is the promising element in this story, continuing the tale of the Toys from the third (and most emotional) installment. The creative team takes a totally different track in this chapter, allowing the Toys to be more autonomous from their human playmates, while still commenting on the value of toys, especially when one becomes special because it is manufactured from imagination. There is a lovely freedom for one of the Toy characters (Bo Peep), which gives the atmosphere a welcome feminist/humanist vibe. The 1970s of Toyland is also nicely represented, with the Canadian knockoff of a popular Evel Knievel action figure (hilarious). Toys will be toys in this one, “to infinity and beyond.”

Woody the Cowboy doll (voice of Tom Hanks) is feeling a bit left out lately, as his human playmate Bonnie is growing to Kindergarten age and thinking outside the toy box in what she plays with … even making Jesse (Joan Cusack) the new sheriff. The little girl reluctantly transitions to her first school day, and Woody tags along in her backpack, hoping to get back into her good graces.

He observes the somewhat lonely Bonnie, as she creates a new toy on her own, with Woody’s help. Forky (Tony Hale) is the girl’s new favorite, even though he’s not sure why he’s alive. The whole Toy gang heads out on vacation in an RV with Bonnie’s family, with Forky escaping at his first opportunity. Woody’s new mission is to retrieve the new favorite, explain to him why he exists, and survive an adventure in an antique shop, where toys like Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) and Duke Kaboom (Keanu Reeves) exist to be displayed, but not played.

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CHICAGO – It is Chicago where New York City native Harry Wood is debuting his first play, entitled “Roast,” through The Comrades theater company at the Greenhouse Theater Center. The comic drama, about a gathering of stand up comics and relatives to “roast” – rather than eulogize – a deceased fellow comedian, is a World Premiere that runs through August 18th, 2019. For tickets and more information, click here.

CHICAGO – Kokandy Productions is one of the best in Chicago doing musicals, and scores again with “Head Over Heels,” through August 25th, 2019, at Theater Wit. For more details and tickets, click here.